Packaging machine



Feb. 12, 1952 c. B. MQHALE ETAL PACKAGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 14, 1949 Clifford B. Mafia/e mil H. Janssen INVENTORJ' Feb. 12, QB MCHALE T PACKAGING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2Clifford B. McHa/e Emil H. Jan ssen INVENTORS 2 c. B. M HALE ETAL2,585,335

R PACKAGING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1949 5 sheets sheet 4 Cl/fra a McHa/e 104 me 2 J E m// H. Janssen 3 INVENTORJ 2 Y a 9 BY H 3% Fig. 9. W4W1 Feb. 12, 1952 c. B. MCHALE ETAL PACKAGING MACHINE .Fild March 14,1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 (Jliffara McHa/e Emil H1 danssen IN V EN TORS Feb.12, 1952 c. B. MCHALE ETAL PACKAGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FiledMarch 14, 1949 ms J a N NE 3w Q9 Glifford B. McHa/e Emil H. JanssenINVENTORJ' Rm Qww 3% mm Patented Feb. 12, 1952.

PACKAGING MACHINE Clifford B. McHale and Emil H. Janssen, Torring ton,Wyo.; said .lanssen assignor to said McHale Application March 14, 1949,Serial No. 81,336

11 Claims. (01. 53-136) This invention relates to a packaging machineand has for its primary object to hold sacks, such as paper bags, withtheir mouths open and to advance such items beneath a filling station atwhich the bags are filled with the product to be packaged andsubsequently closed as they move away from the filling station.

Another object is to exert counteractin pressures on the sack or bagadjacent the mouth thereof in order to develop sufiicient frictionalcontact to retain the bag or sack on its supporting means while it isbeing filled, and subsequently to release the pressure so that the bagmay move downwardly under the weight of the contents thereof.

Still another object is to cause the mouth of the bag to close and toassure the proper folding of the gussets of the bag during the closingof the mouth thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to improve packaging machinesof the general type disclosed in our copending application, Serial No.752,618, filedJune 5, 1947.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this inventionwhich embodies among its features a carrier mounted to move in a closedpath beneath a sack filling station, opposed sack mouth extending unitsmounted on the carrier to move beneath the carrier, yielding meanscarried by the carrier to move the sack mouth extending units outwardlyand into contact with the sides of a sack adjacent the mouth thereof tohold said sack extended on the carrier, gusset folding fingers mountedon the carrier to move beneath the carrier perpendicular to thedirection of movement of the sack mouth extending units, and yieldingmeans carried by the carrier to move the fingers inwardly and intocontact with the gussets of a sack held by the sack mouth extendingunits.

Other features include a sack supporting conveyor upon which filledsacks are moved away from the filling station, and means between thesupporting conveyor and the path of movement of the carrier for closingthe mouths of the sacks as they are moved by the conveyor.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of a packaging machine embodying the features ofthis invention,

Figure 2 is an end view of the machine illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along theline 3-3 of Figure 1,

showing the mouth-closing chains in their open position, I

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially alongtheline 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a top plan view of one of the sack carriers,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 ofFigure 5,

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along theline 1-1 of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line8-8 of Figure 6,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail view of one corner of the frame of thesack carrier showing the manner in which the sack carriers are coupledtogether to form an endless moving sack-carrying unit;

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view on a greatly enlarged scaletaken substantially on the line Ill-I0 of Figure 1, e v

Figure 11 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyon the line ll-II of Figure 1, showing the sack mouth closing unit inopen position, 7

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing the sack mouth closingunit in its closed position,

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially alon theline l3--l3 of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the main driveratchet mechanism, and

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the filled sackconveyor drive ratchet.

Referring to the drawings in detail, vertical legs ill support at theirupper ends cross-bars [2 on the under sides of which are secured spacedparallel bars I4 which cooperate with the crossbars 52 in forming a mainsupporting frame [6. Extending upwardly from the side bars l4 near oneend of the frame I6 is a pair of spaced vertical standards l8 carryingintermediate their upper and lower ends bearing brackets 20 in which anidler shaft 22 is supported. Extending upwardly from the side bars l4adjacent the ends thereof remote from the standards l3 arelongitudinally spaced pairs of standards 22 and 2%, which are joined attheir upper ends by side bars 26 and end bars 28 to form a horizontalframe 39 which lies in vertically spaced relation to the frame l6.Bearing brackets 32 are carried by the standards 24 and are providedwith aligning openings in which a drive shaft 34 isrmounted to rotateabout an axis which lies parallel to andin a horizontal plane with theaxis of the roller shaft 22.

Longitudinally spaced pairs of vertical columns 35 extend upwardly fromthe side bars l4 between the standards I 8 and '24, and carried by theupper ends of the columns 35 in vertically spaced relation to the sidebars I4 are longitudinally extending spaced parallel track rails 36.

Extending laterally from the side rails I4 adjacent the end of the frame[6 remote from the frame 38 are longitudinally spaced pairs ofhorizontal arms 38 carrying at their outer ends depending bars 48, thelower ends of which are joined by horizontal cross bars 4| carrying a1ongitudinally extending horizontally disposed elongated conveyor bed44. As illustrated, the conveyor bed 44 extends beyond the end of themain frame I6 adjacent the standards I8 and carried by the conveyor bed44 at the end thereof remote from the main frame are brackets 46 inwhich an idler roll 48 is mounted to rotate. Brackets 58 depend from theconveyor bed 44 adjacent the end thereof remote from the roll 48 andjournaled in said brackets 50 is a drive shaft 52 to which is fixed adrive roller 54. A conveyor belt 56 is trained over the drive roller 54and the idler roller 48, and the upper run of said belt extends alongthe upper surface of the bed 44 so that a load imposed on the belt 56will be supported throughout the length of the conveyor by the a bed 44.

Fixed to the drive shaft 52 adjacent one end thereof is a ratchet wheel58 (Figure 15) and mounted on the shaft 52 for rotation thereabout is adrive sprocket 68 carrying a laterally projecting flange 62 whichencircles the ratchet wheel 58. The flange 58 is provided with inwardlyopening recesses 64 in which spring advanced pawls 66 are mounted torock into yielding contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 66 sothat when the sprocket 68 is oscillated, the shaft 52 will be rotated inbut one direction.

Fixed to the drive shaft 34 adjacent one end thereof is a ratchet wheel68 (Figure 14) and rockably supported on said shaft adjacent the ratchetwheel 68 is a housing I8 which encircles the ratchet wheel 68 and isprovided with a radial arm '12 by which the housing I0 is oscillated. Aspring-pressed pawl I4 is carried by the housing 10 and engages theteeth of the ratchet wheel 68 so that, as the housing I8 oscillates, theshaft 34 will be driven in but one direction. An arm 16 is carried byand extends outwardly from the radial arm I2 for a purpose to be morefully hereinafter explained.

Coupledat one end to the arm 16 is a flexible member I8, the oppositeend of which is connected to one end of a drive chain 88 which extendsaround the sprocket 68 and has its opposite end connected to one end ofa retractile coil spring 82, the opposite end of which is connected toone of the side bars I4 of the frame I6. It will thus be seen that asthe arm I2 oscillates, the sprocket 80 will oscillate and drive theshaft 52 in one direction with a step-by-step motion.

Mounted in suitable brackets 84 carried by the side bars 26 of the frame38 is a rotary drive shaft 86 carrying intermediate its ends a drivesprocket 88 which has driving connection with a suitable prime mover 98in any suitable manner. A

'crank arm 92 is fixed to the rotary drive shaft 86 and 34 in onedirection with a step-by-step moionl Carried by the shaft 22 is an idlerdrum 46 Q4:

polygonal cross-section and fixed to the drive shaft 34 is a polygonaldrive drum 98. An endless sack conveyor designated generally I88 istrained over the drums 98 and 98 and comprises links I82 joiningopposite ends of individual sack carriers designated generally I84.

Each sack carrier I04 comprises a rectangular carrier frame (Figure 5)composed of spaced parallel side bars I86 joined at opposite ends byspaced parallel end bars I88 and bottom bars or shoes II8. Welded orotherwise secured to the upper edges of the side bars I86 adjacentopposite ends thereof are spaced parallel cross shafts I I2 and fixed inthe end bars I08 below the upper edges thereof are longitudinallyextending spaced parallel shafts II4 which lie perpendicular to theshafts I I2.

Mounted on the shafts H4 to rock about the 'a-xes thereof are sackexpanding units desigsleeve II8 carrying longitudinally spaced tubulararms I20 which extend outwardly from the sleeve I I8 as will be readilyunderstood upon reference to the drawing. Rockably supportedintermediate their opposite ends as by a cross-pin I22 carried by eacharm I20 are the spaced parallel legs I24 of an inverted U-shaped sackengaging member 426. A cross-pin I28 extends between each pair of legsI24 adjacent their junctions with the bight portion of eachsack-engaging member E26 and supported on each cross-pin I28 andextending into the outer end of the arm I28 carrying its respectivesack-engaging member I26 is a pin I38, These pins I38 will permit freeswinging movement of the sack-engagingmembers 526 on their respectivearms I20 within limits. Extending radially from each sleeve H8 adjacentone end thereof is a pair of longitudinally spaced parallel arms I32between the outer ends of which is swivelly mounted a block I34, Theblocks I34 carried by the respective sleeves II8 are arranged oppositeone another and the opposite blocks are provided with aligning openingsI 36 for the reception of a guide and stop pin I38. A compression coilspring I48 surrounds the guide and stop pin I38 and bears at oppositeends on the opposed blocks I34 yieldingly to urge said blocks I34 apartand the sack expanding units I I6 inexpanded position.

In order toeffect contraction of the sack ex'- panding units II 8against the effort of the spring I48, each sleeve has fixed adjacent itsend nearest the arms I32 a segment of a disk I42 and mounted forrotation on an adjacent and bar I08 is a disk I44 carrying a laterallyextending arm I46 having a handle I48 at its outer end. A

' length of chain I58 is coupled at one end to the upper portion of thedisk I44 and at its opposite end to the far side of the disk segment I42on the right side of the device when viewed as in Figure '7. A similarchain length I52 is connected at one end to the lower portion of thedisk I44 while the opposite end of said chain length I52 is connected tothe far side of the opposite disk segment I42. With the chain lengthsI58 and I52 trained over the convex portions of the disk I44, it will beevident that when the arm I46 is moved downwardly as suggested by thebroken lines in Figure '7, the sleeves I I8 will be rocked on theirrespective shafts H4 against the effort of the spring- I48 so as tocontract the sack expanding unitsI I6 as suggested by the broken linesin Figure '7.

Mounted for rocking movement on the cross- Shafts II2 are sleeves I54,each of. Which has fixed thereto substantially midway. between oppositeends a radially extending sack gusset folding finger I56. An arin I58 isfixed to one of the sleeves I54 adjacent one end thereof and projects inthe direction of the finger I56 on said sleeve. A similar arm I60 isfixed to the opposite sleeve I54 adjacent one end thereof and projectsradially therefrom in a direction opposite the finger I5 8 on saidsleeve. A link I62 is connected at opposite ends to the arms I58 and I60so that upon rocking movement of a sleeve I54 about its respective shaftII2, the opposite sleeve I54 will move in unison but in the oppositedirection. Fixed to the link I62 adjacent the end thereof which isconnected to the arm I60 is a sus enlar I64 and surrounding said link isa compression coil spring I66, one end of which bears on the stop collarI64. A bracket I68 is pivotally supported on an adjacent side bar I06and forms an abutment for the end of the spring I 66 remote from thestop collar I64 so that the effort of the spring I66 tends to contractthe fingers I56 into the full line position shown in Figures 5 and 6. Ahand lever H0 is fixed to one of the sleeves I54 to enable the fingersI56 to be manually expanded against the effort of the spring I66 duringthe placing of a sack S on the carrier I04 as suggested by the brokenlines in Figure 6.

Mounted on the frame I6 substantially midway between opposite endsthereof is a suitable sackfllling unit I'I2 having a discharge hopperI74 which is located directly about the drive roller 54 of the packageconveyor belt 56 so that the sacks S, as they become filled, will besupported together with their contents on the conveyor belt 55, to bemovedthereby toward the idler roller 48 beneath the sack-closing unit tobe more fully hereinafter described.

Carried by the depending bars 40 intermediate the upper and lower endsthereof and slightly below the level of the frame I6 are inwardlyextending horizontal supporting arms I76, the inner ends of which arespaced apart as at I18 to permit filled sacks S to pass therebetween.Supported on the arms I16 adjacent the discharge end of the conveyorbelt 56 are horizontally spaced bed plates I80, the adjacent edges ofwhich lie in closely spaced parallel relation with a vertical planeextending through the 1ongitudinal axis of the conveyor belt 55. Mountedfor horizontal swinging movement on the plates I80 adjacent the endsthereof remote from the discharge end of the conveyor belt 56 arevertically spaced pairs of parallel arms I82 and I84 and I86 and I88.Pivotally connected to the pairs of parallel arms I82 and I 84 andslidably supported on one of the horizontal arms I16 adjacent theloading end of the conveyor belt 56 are vertically spaced pairs ofplates i90. Similar vertically spaced pairs of plates I92 are pivotallyconnected to the vertically spaced parallel arms I86 and I88 and aresupported for horizontal sliding movement on the horizontal arm I18opposite that on which the plates I90 are supported. The plates I90 areprovided adjacent their ends remote from the arms I82 and I84 withelongated longitudinal slots I94 (Figure 11) in which bearing blocks I96are mounted to slide and these blocks are yieldingly advanced toward theends of the slots I94 under the influence of compression springs I98. Anaxle shaft 288 extends through the bearing blocks I96 and mounted onsaid axle shaft 200 for rotation between the plates I90 is an idlerwheel 202 (Figure 12), the periphery of which lies substantially flushwith the end edges or the plates I90. Mounted for rotation between theplates I90 about a vertical axis which aligns with the axes of thepivots by whichthe plates I90 are joined to the arms I82 is a guideroller 204 and mounted between the plates I86 to rotate about a verticalaxis which aligns with the pivotal connection between said plates I00and the arms I82 and I 84 is a guide roller 206. A similar guide roller208 is mounted to rotate between the plates I about the vertical axis ofthe pivotal connection between the arms I84 and the plates I80. A guideroller 2I0 of like structure is mounted to rotate between the plates I80about a vertical axis of the pivotal connection between the arms I82 andthe plates I80, and mounted on a vertical shaft 2I2 to rotate betweenthe plates I80 adjacent the ends thereof remote from the arms I82 andI84 is a drive sprocket 2I3 A guide roller 2 I 6 is mounted between theplates adjacent the guide roller 206 and when the inner edges of theplates I80 and I align, as illustrated in Figure 12, the peripheries ofthe idler roller 202 and the drive sprocket 2I4 lie in the same verticalplane along with the peripheries of the guide rollers 206, 208 and 2I6.A take-up roller 2I8 is mounted between the plates I90 to rotateabout avertical axis which lies adjacent the axis of the guide roller 204, andcooperates with the guide rollers 206 and 2I5 in guiding the inner runof a sack-closing chain 220 which is trained over the drive sprocket 2I4and the idler and guide rollers as illustrated in Figures 11 and 12.

A similar roller system including an idler roller 222 and a drivesprocket 224 is,v carried by the plates I80 on the oppositeside of .themachine,

the arms I86 and I83 and the plates I92. Trained over the last-namedroller system and idler roll 222 and sprocket 224 is an .endlesssack-closing chain 226 which cooperates with the chain 220 in engagingopposite sides of a filled sack. 5 carried by the conve'yorj56 andclosing the mouth of said sack above the contentsthereof. The

sprocket 224 rotates about a vertical shaft 221 which lies in spacedparallel relation to the shaft 2I2 and carried by each sprocket 2| 4 and224 is a drive sprocket 228.

Mounted in suitable brackets 230 and 232 which extend laterally from theouter edges of the plates I80 are, respectively, a vertical drive shaft236 and a 'vertical idler shaft 238. A drive sprocket 240 is carried bythe drive shaft 236 near the upper end thereof and an idler sprocket 242is mounted to rotate about the idler shaft 238. Anendless drive chain244 is trained over the sprockets 240,242and 228 so that upon rotatingthe drive sprocket 240 the drive sprockets 223 will be rotated in unisonbut in opposite directions. A suitable gear train is housed within ahousing 246 (Figure 1) and is coupled to the drive shaft 236 adjacent.the lower end thereof. Power is supplied'to said gear train by means ofa transmission shaft 240 which is connected to-a gear train containedwithin a housing 250 which is mounted on the machine adjacent the idlerroller 48 of the conveyor belt 56. Power is supplied to the gear trainwithin the housing 250 through rotation of the idler roller 48 as thelatter is driven by the belt 56, and thus it will be seen that thesack-closing chains 220 and 226 will be moved in unison with themovement of the conveyor belt 56.

y In use, an operator ,places sacks S overv the sack-extending units I{6 from a-pointabove the machine substantially as indicated at O in 7Figure 1. The. sacks S moving along with the endless conveyor Hill onthe carriers IM pass around the drum 98 in the direction of the arrowsin Figure 1 so that they are turned upright with their mouths extendedand moved in a rectilinear path beneath the discharge hopper of thearticle feeding device I12 at the sackfilling station. A charge ofarticles having been deposited in a sack while it is at rest beneath thefilling station, the hand grip I48 is moved upwardly to release theexpanding pressure of the sack-expanding units H6 so as to allow thesack with its contents to drop a short distance onto the conveyor apron56. Such downward movement of the sack with relation to its respectivecarrier I64 causes the sack mouth expanding units H6 to be withdrawnfrom the sack mouth a distance that will permit the fingers I56 to rockinwardly and force the folds of the gussets of the sack inwardly tostart the mouth of the sack to close. When a sufficient group of sacks Shas moved along the conveyor apron 56 between the chain-supportingmembers I90 and I92, the members are advanced toward one another intosubstantially the position illustrated in Figure 12 so as to pinch themouth of the sack between the chains 220 and 226, as illustrated inFigure 3, and close the sack mouth. The mouth of the sack is held closedby the chains 226 and 226 until the sacks pass beyond the end of thesack-closing unit, at which point they are removed from the conveyorapron 56 to be sewn or otherwise fastened to prevent the escape of thecontents of the sack. Obviously, owing to the drive mechanism employed,the empty sacks will be advanced in a step-by-step motion by the carrierI66 toward the sack-loading station, at which they pause for a timesufiicient to enable the sack at rest thereunder to be filled, and byreason of the fact that the conveyor apron 56 is actuated in timedrelation with the advance of the carrier I00, it will be evident thatthe filled sacks S will be moved away from the filling station in unisonwith the advance of the empty sacks. Likewise, owing to the fact thatthe sack-closing chains 220 and 226 are driven in unison with themovements of the conveyor apron 56, it will be obvious that they toowill operate in step-by-step and timed relation with the rest of themechanism.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what claimed as new is:

1. In a packaging machine, a carrier mounted to move in a horizontalpath beneath a sackfilling station, spaced sack mouth-extending unitsmounted on the carrier to move around the carrier, yielding meanscarried by the carrier to move the sack mouth-extending units outwardlyand into contact with the sides of a sack adjacent the mouth thereof tohold said sack extended on the carrier, gusset folding fingers mountedon the carrier to move around the carrier perpendicular to the directionof movement of the sack mouth-extending units, and yielding meanscarried by the carrier to move the fingers inwardly and into contactwith the gussets of a sack held by the sack mouthextending units.

2. In a packaging machine, a carrier mounted to move in a horizontalrectilinear path beneath a sack-filling station, sack mouth-extendingunits mounted on the carrier to move in spaced vertical arcs around thecarrier, yielding means carried by the carrier to move the sackmouth-extending units outwardly and into contact with a sack adjacentthe mouth thereof to hold said sack extended on the carrier, gussetfolding fingers mounted on the carrier to move in vertical arcs aroundthe carrier which lie perpendicular to the arcs in which the sackmouth-extending units move, and yielding means carried by the carrier tomove the fingers inwardly and into contact with the gussets of a sackheld by the sack mouthextending units.

3. In a packaging machine, a carrier mounted to move in a horizontalpath beneath a sackfilling station, sack mouth-extending units mountedon the carrier adjacent opposite sides thereof to move in vertical arcsaround the carrier, yielding means carried by the carrier and operablebetween the sack mouth-extending units to move said units outwardly andinto contact with the sides of a sack adjacent the mouth thereof to holdsaid sack extended on the carrier, gusset folding fingers mounted on thecarrier to move in arcs around the carrier which lie perpendicular tothe arcs in which the sack mouth-extending units move, and yieldingmeans carried by the carrier to move the fingers inwardly and intocontact with the gussets of a sack held by the sack mouth-extendingunits.

4. In a packaging machine, a carrier mounted to move in a horizontalpath beneath a sack-filling station, sack mouth-extending units mountedon the carrier adjacent opposite sides thereof to move in vertical arcsaround the carrier, yielding means carried by the carrier to move thesack mouth-extending units outwardly and into contact with the sides ofa sack adjacent the mouth thereof to hold said sack extended on thecarrier, gusset folding fingers mounted on the carrier adjacent oppositeends thereof to move in arcs around the carrier which lie perpendicularto the arcs in which the sack mouth-extending units move, and yieldingmeans carried by the carrier to move the fingers inwardly and intocontact with the gussets of a sack held by the mouthextending units.

5. In a packaging machine, a carrier mounted to move in a horizontalpath beneath a sack-filling station, spaced sack mouth-extending unitsmounted on the carrier to move around the carrier, yielding meanscarried by the carrier to move the sack mouth-extending units outwardlyand into contact with the sides of a sack adjacent the mouth thereof tohold said sack extended on the carrier, gusset folding fingers mountedon the carrier to move around the carrier pcrpen dicular to thedirection of movement of the sack mouth-extending units, a linkconnected to the fingers for simultaneously moving said fingers inopposite directions, a collar on the link intermediate the ends thereof,a bracket pivoted to the carrier adjacent one side thereof, said brackethaving a guide opening therein through which the link extends and acompression coiled spring encircling the link between the collar and thebracket to exert yielding pressure on the collar and yieldingly move thefingers inwardly and into contact with the gussets of a sack held by thesack mouth-extending units.

6. In a packaging machine having a carrier mounted to move in ahorizontal path beneath a sack filling station, means for so moving saidcarrier, means on the carrier for supporting a sack thereon in anupright position with its mouth extended, and a conveyor moving in ahorizontal path around the carrier for supporting a filled sack andmoving it beyond the filling station, means for closing the mouth of thefilled sack comprising gusset folding fingers carried by the carrier andmovable around said carrier toward one another under yielding pressureagainst the gussets of the sack adjacent the mouth thereof for partiallycontracting the mouth of the sack and traveling means movable above theconveyor adjacent the top of the sack for engaging opposite sides of thesack adjacent the mouth thereof and closing the mouth of the sack as itmoves beyond the filling station.

'7. In a packaging machine having a carrier mounted to move in ahorizontal rectilinear path beneath a sack-filling station, means for somoving said carrier, means on the carrier for supporting a sack thereonin an upright position with its mouth extended and a conveyor moving ina horizontal rectilinear path around the carrier for supporting a filledsack and moving it beyond the filling station, means for closing themouth of the filled sack while it is moving beyond the filling stationcomprising gusset folding fingers carried by the carrier and movabletoward one another under yielding pressure against the gussets of thesack adjacent the mouth thereof for partially contracting the mouth ofthe sack and traveling means movable horizontally above the conveyor andbelow the level of the carrier for engaging the sides of the sackadjacent the mouth thereof and closing the mouth of the sack as it movesbeyond the filling station.

8. In a packaging machine having a carrier mounted to move in ahorizontal rectilinear path beneath a sack-filling station, means for somoving said carrier, means on the carrier for supporting a sack thereonin an upright position with its mouth extended and a conveyor moving ina horizontal rectilinear path around the carrier for supporting a filledsack and moving it beyond the filling station, means for closing themouth of the filled sack while it is moving beyond the filling stationcomprising gusset folding fingers carried by the carrier and movabletoward one another under yielding pressure against the gussets of thesack adjacent the mouth thereof for partially contracting the mouth ofthe sack, and endless chains moving in juxtaposed horizontal paths abovethe conveyor and below the level of the carrier for engaging the sidesof the sack adjacent the mouth thereof and closing the mouth of the sackas it moves beyond the filling station.

9. In a packaging machine, a series of carriers joined together to movein a horizontal rectilinear path beneath a sack-filling station; meanscarried by each carrier to support a sack thereon in an upright positionwith the mouth of the sack extended; means on each carrier to fold thegussets of a sack inwardly adjacent the mouth of the sack after the sackhas been filled at the filling station; a conveyor movable beneath thecarriers to support filled sacks and move them away from the fillingstation; means movable above the conveyor and below the carriers forengaging opposite sides of a filled sack adjacent the mouth thereof andclosing the mouth of said sack; and common drive means adjacent one endof the series of carriers to move the carriers, the conveyor and thesack-closing means in unison.

10. In a packaging machine, a carrier mounted to move in a horizontalpath beneath a sackfilling station, sack mouth-extending units mountedon the carrier to move in spaced arcs around the carrier, yielding meanscarried by the carrier to move the sack mouth-extending units outwardlyand into contact with the sides of a sack adjacent the mouth thereof tohold said sack extended on the carrier, gusset folding fingers mountedon the carrier to move in spaced arcs around the carrier which lieperpendicular to the direction of movement of the sack mouthextendingunits, and yielding means carried by the carrier to move the fingersinwardly and into contact with the gussets of a sack held by the sackmouth-extending units.

11. In a packaging machine of the type in which sack carriers carryingsacks to be filled are successively moved beneath a sack-fillingstation, means on each carrier to hold a sack thereon with its mouthextended, said means comprising sack mouth-extending units pivoted tothe carrier to move in aligned arcs which lie around the carrier,yielding means carried by the carrier to move said units outwardly andinto engagement with the inner faces of the sides of a sack adjacent themouth thereof, fingers pivoted to the carrier to move in aligned arcsaround the carrier, and yielding means carried by the carrier to movethe fingers inwardly and into engagement With the outer faces of thegussets of the sack adjacent the mouth thereof, said fingers cooperatingwith the sack-extending units in frictionally supporting a sack on acarrier.

CLIFFORD B. MoHALE. EMIL H. JANSSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,058,747 Hoepner Apr. 15, 19131,551,525 Hamer Aug. 25, 1925 2,234,951 Belcher Mar. 18, 1941 2,243,805Knapp May 27, 1941

